Every animal deserves a forever home. This is the core belief behind Midcoast Humane’s new campaign, No Paw Left Behind.

No Paw Left Behind is a community initiative to help long-term, overlooked pets find their forever homes. Led by volunteers and staff at Midcoast Humane, the campaign ensures that every dog and cat who is ready to be adopted finds a family within 90 days.

The campaign was created because the hardest to place animals need an entire community to help them find a home. Organizers are asking the community to share the stories of these under-dogs and cats with their friends by following the No Paw Left Behind Facebook page.

In 2018, sixty-four animals waited 90 days or longer to be adopted, and sometimes much, much longer. While the average amount of time that dogs and cats waited for a home on our adoption floor was 7.3 and 10.2 days respectively, there were noticeable outliers. Sherman, a lab mix and staff favorite was up for adoption for 194 days before his forever family took him home in January.

Several animals have been waiting for homes for even longer. Nine-year-old pit bull mix Shasha has been ready for 319 days. Compared to the average dog and cat ready to be adopted in 2018, the longest-term dog sat 12.5 times longer, and longest-term cat waited 9 times longer, to find their forever home.

Some of the hardest to place animals often need a particular environment at home, such as being the only pet in the household, or living with no children under a certain age. Sometimes they might have a behavioral or medical need that needs special attention. Additionally, many shelter visitors do not consider a long-term resident because the dog or cat doesn’t “show well” at the shelter. However, post-adoption surveys have revealed that these hard-to-place animals thrive in their new homes.

Midcoast Humane provides the best care and attention possible to every animal, regardless of how long they wait to find their forever home.

For animals that do spend longer periods at the shelter, Midcoast Humane’s enrichment and behavior modification teams focus on keeping animals happy, stimulated, and healthy. Some animals are kept away from high-traffic areas of the shelter to help alleviate stress. Dogs take “field trips” with volunteers, and work on basic commands and improving kennel behavior. Dogs and cats, as well as small animals, are provided with “boredom buster” exercises to help keep their minds sharp, which is vitally important to maintaining health and happiness.

These animals need their community rooting for them. We hope No Paw Left Behind inspires people to use their love for pets to have a direct impact on these shelter residents!

We have already received a lot of positive feedback from the community around the launch of No Paw Left Behind. After years of seeing so many wonderful cats and dogs overlooked, volunteers and staff are thrilled to have the opportunity to put each of these animals in the spotlight. We hope each of you will share every animal’s story to help them find their forever home.

The campaign, in so many ways, shines a light on the most challenging aspects of our work. From the moment an animal is in the shelter, each dog and cat receives the best possible care, from food and comfort, to medical care and training. Behind all of that time are amazing volunteers and staff…and many, many resources.

﻿You can see the difference volunteers and staff make on the well-being of these animals. Their attention and patience helps each one be ready for their forever home, faster. This is especially the case for those animals who have spent their lives neglected.

We can’t quantify love, but we do know that on average, every day an animal is in our care costs $20. We would double these costs if it wasn’t for our fantastic volunteers, and generous in-kind donations from the community.

“Shasha”, one of our long-term dogs, has been with us for more than 430 days. In that time, we have spent at least $8,600 for her care. She is just one outstanding examples of the costs of our mission. It is critical for the sake of every animal, and our organization’s financial stability, that we find each one their forever home as soon as possible.

Thank you for joining us. Spread the word,

and if you can, please donate to the No Paw Left Behind Fund by clicking below.

We are proud to tell you that we have had a number of great developments over the last several months as we build our community collaborations to best serve the needs of the animals and their people. Thanks to you, we are always receiving generous donations of food, treats and items for our shelter animals. Sometimes we are unable to use certain items because of allergies, skin issues, health issues, etc. In those cases, we wanted to honor the donation and put that food to work in our community!

Midcoast Humane is working toward additional collaborations this year and will keep you updated as they develop. In the meantime, we love to accept your donations and they all help the animals and people of the Midcoast. Thank you!

In our Pet Food Pantry program, we have partnered with agencies from Cumberland to Damariscotta that include:

Animal Camp is a fun, educational camp experience for kids who love animals! Campers spend time each day interacting with shelter animals, hearing from shelter professionals, and taking part in fun activities that help animals and raise awareness about sheltering and other animal-related issues.

Week-long sessions begin July 8 for kids entering grades 1 - 6. Sign up the animal lover in your household for a week of fun, learning, and ANIMALS!

Are you getting ready to primp your garden? Join us for our 17th Annual Plant Sale on Saturday, May 18th from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 190 Pleasant Street in Brunswick. We'll be selling a wide variety of annuals, perennials, hanging baskets, vegetables, herbs, shrubs, and trees to support our critters... everything you need for a beautiful garden this year!

Dig, Divide, Donate!

If you are looking to downsize or clean up your garden, we would love to add your spare plants to our sale! Drop off your labeled and separated plants at 190 Pleasant Street in Brunswick the week before the sale. We may even be able to help you dig! For more information, please contact Kadie Glynn at kglynn@midcoasthumane.org or (207) 449-1366 ext.110.

Join us on Saturday, August 24th for the 14th annual Save a Stray 5K!Take part in the 5K run or one-mile walk with your friends, family, and, of course, your dog! After crossing the finish line, stick around for a fun-filled day at L.L.Bean. Our 2019 event promises new fun-filled events, as well as some returning favorites. Sign up by May 18, 2019 to take advantage of our early bird rate of just $20 per person!

Visit the event website to learn more at
saveastray5k.org or click below to sign up now!

On Saturday, April 27th, Midcoast Humane will host a Vaccination Clinic to offer low-cost rabies and distemper vaccinations. Rabies vaccinations are $10 and distemper vaccinations are $15. We will also be offering microchip insertion for $25 and selling flea/tick prevention products for dogs and cats. No appointment is necessary, but please be in line by 2:00pm to guarantee service. Dogs must be on leashes and cats must be in carriers.

Vaccination Clinic

Saturday, April 27 | 10am – 2pm

Midcoast Humane Edgecomb Campus,

27 Atlantic Highway, Edgecomb

This clinic is intended to serve animals who do not receive regular veterinary care as a part of their healthy living. Although all animals will receive a basic vet check for obvious health issues, this visit should not replace your relationship with your pet's veterinarian. It's vital to have a veterinarian relationship as they will be able to take the time to talk to you about your pet's health, including any behavior issues, nutrition questions, lifestyle and activities.

SPRING FLING Adoption Event April 13

Join us for a very special, two-location adoption event and supply drive on Saturday, April 13th!

Spring Fling! will take place at Midcoast Humane’s Brunswick campus (30 Range Rd, Brunswick) AND at the Richmond Agway (467 Main St, Richmond) where we will have many animals looking for their forever homes! Get a sneak peek of the animals going up for adoption a few days before the event on our Facebook page! Questions? Call (207) 449-1366.

Join us for an all-levels yoga class featuring an adorable crew of (adoptable) kittens and cats. Connect with your inner feline! Prance, pounce, play and purr through a spirited yoga class offered at Jai Yoga in Brunswick ME. The kittens get important socialization and the humans get smiles and warm-fuzzies from yoga done in the presence cat-energy. All proceeds benefit the animals of Midcoast Humane. Suggested donation $25.

For the entire month of April, you can drop off donations of supplies at the Yarmouth Hannaford. Look for the donation drop box at the front of the store. You can also find our supply wish list at the store or you can check out our website for an extended list.

April Supply Drive

Yarmouth Hannaford

Shoppers Village, 756 Route #1, Yarmouth

April 1 - April 30

Did you find kittens? Adopt "mom" for free when you bring in a litter

Kitten season will be here before we know it! Did you know that if you bring in a litter of kittens or puppies for surrender, that we will spay and vaccinate mom and return to you at no cost? When they're ready, we'll make sure the kiddos get everything they need and find them a loving new home! Questions? Call us for details at (207) 449-1366.

AN UPDATE FROM KATHY BLACK, COORDINATOR OF MILLIE'S CANS

Millie's Donation Cans: a simple but POWERFUL fundraising tool

"I would like to take this opportunity to update everyone on our "Millie’s Cans" program. Last year, the donation jars generated over $25,800, which is a healthy chunk of change that we can put toward vaccinations, veterinary care, and second chances for Midcoast Humane animals!

I want to give a shout out to the volunteers who faithfully pick up for us each month. In no particular order, these rockstars are: Eileen Webber, Yvonne St. Michel, Cindy and Kip Kennett, Russ Kinne, Kathy Hirst and Midcoast Humane's very own Tammy Walsh. Thank you so much! Your dedication to this program is recognized and so appreciated!

I would also like to encourage anyone who knows of a great spot for a Millie's Can to please let me know. We are looking to expand the program as much as we possibly can so that we may receive all that we can. It is called the “Non Profit Mindset”! We have a huge responsibility that we take on every single day with the bottom line of having a love of animals and wanting to do our very best for those who end up in our care.

I, Kathy Black, can be reached at 449-1366, extension 108 or at kblack@midcoasthumane.org. Thank you so much!" - Kathy

Thanks to Furniture Superstore, our animals are STARS!

Have you seen our commercial with Furniture Superstore on TV? We'd like to extend a big, Midcoast Humane THANK YOU to our long-time friends at Furniture Superstore for producing this awesome spot showcasing some of our beloved shelter residents and reminding folks to consider the adoption option! A house truly isn't a home without a pet! (And of course, some awesome furniture from Furniture Superstore!)

Join our team!

WE'RE HIRING! Love animals? Love people? Are you passionate about animal welfare? Join the Midcoast Humane team! We are currently hiring for the positions of: Volunteer Manager, Animal Camp Teacher, Database & Grants Coordinator, and Customer & Animal Care Specialist. Each role is different, but vitally important in serving animals and people throughout Midcoast Maine.

Join Wilcox Wellness and Fitness for a FREE training session, with donation of $20 or pet supplies to Midcoast Humane, now available at a time that best fits your schedule.

Schedule a quick call to enroll in your Free Training Session. The purpose of this call is to learn more about you and your exercise experience, and register you for a training session that is appropriate for you.

"My fiancé surprised me with Oliver for my birthday back in October. I had seen a picture of him posted by Medomak Vet and fell in love. I’m happy to tell you that Oliver is doing so well! We love him and he pretty much fit in right from the start. He gets along well with our two dogs, especially our younger lab named Roxie. They play together from time to time and even nap together quite often. It’s the sweetest thing. Oliver is spunky and energetic. He loves to play, but also saves time for sleeping in sunny spots whenever possible. He likes to crawl up on mine or my fiancé’s laps and just rest for a while. He’s petite but has grown quite a bit since bringing him home. He’s a good little boy and I couldn’t have asked for a better cat. Thanks so much for this little guy!"

CHECK OUT THAT BEACH BUM, JAYDEN!

"Just leaving you a note of thanks, for the nice call from the lady who just called to check in on Jayden ( Joy, now). Wanted to share a recent photo of our beautiful baby.... she is thriving, happy, and healthy. She has taught us a great deal. And we certainly have learned to use lots of patience!"

Meet our NO PAW LEFT BEHIND animals!

No Paw Left Behind is a community initiative to help long-term, overlooked pets find their forever homes. Led by volunteers and staff at Midcoast Humane, the campaign ensures that every dog and cat who is ready to be adopted finds a family within 90 days. Help every animal find a home by following and sharing their stories on the No Paw Left Behind Facebook Page. Questions? Speak with an adoption counselor at (207) 449-1366. See all of our adoptable animals

Mabon has been waiting for a home since October 26, 2018! She is a SWEET, quiet, and mellow older lady (12 years young) who LOVES her cat bed, laps, and sunbeams. She has kidney disease, but she's feeling pretty good! She eats special food, needs a nice big bowl of water at all times to help with hydration, and will most likely require additional medical care. A quiet home with older children and other cats will suit her fancy. Please consider giving a home to this gentle and lovable lady.

Cylenehas been waiting for a home since January 20, 2018! This 3-year-old is one smart cookie, she knows sit, paw, and roll over...and is eager to learn more! She will know she’s forever home when she has a yard to run and fetch balls in. Her absolute favorite is to be tucked into her bed with a comfy blanket. She is food-motivated and guards her possessions (food, rawhides, toys), so it's important that her human companions be 16 years or older. No cats for this girl, though the right dog could work after a "meet and greet" at the shelter. She's a goofy fun-loving girl who is ready to be home at last!

Shashahas been waiting for a home since January 20, 2018! She's 9 years old and at her core, is a very affectionate couch potato! She loves her treats, walks, and belly rubs. Her freckles are irresistible, don't you agree? Shasha would love to be the apple of your eye. She is not a fan of loud noises and sudden movements, so she should live in an adult-only home with no other pets. If you're looking for a great walking buddy, you've found your girl!

Lillianhas been waiting for a home since August 2, 2018! For an introvert like "Auntie Lillian," the shelter is not a very fun place to be. This 3-year-old is looking for a quiet home with no dogs, but respectful children could be okay. Cats would be okay, too, if they are introduced properly. If you have a soft spot for tabby cats and bashful ladies who need space and understanding to blossom, Lillian could be just the one for you!

Bozhas been waiting for a home since October 26, 2018! He is a 5-year-old shy guy that would like a calm and quiet home. Boz will need a special diet too, it helps to manage his skin allergies and keeps his glorious coat shining. Could you be the one to coax this handsome boy out of his shell? He would love to be your quiet sidekick.

Ingrid has been waiting for a home since December 14, 2018! We think she is around 7 years old. Originally found as a stray, she was identified as "semi-feral" when she first came in to Midcoast Humane, but this quality is quickly reversing. Just this week she spent two hours - perhaps a shelter record - in the lap of one of our devoted cat volunteers! Are you the one to help her be the house cat she was born to be?

Tyson has been waiting for a home since January 31, 2019! Tyson is a two-and-a-half year-old Boxer mix. He might be the most entertaining dog you'll ever meet. He lives for his time outdoors and is excellent on a leash. Before you leave for your walk together, he'll grab a toy from the bin by the door to take along! Like other "No Paw Left Behind" dogs, the shelter can be a lot for him. He has reportedly done well with children and cats in his last home, but it's important to give him time and space as he adjusts to a new home. Additional obedience training will be a great way for his new family to bond with him!

Fred has been waiting for a home since February 18, 2019! Fred is a handsome one-year-old Lab/Pit mix. You'll want to meet Mr. Fred outdoors where he's his true loving self! According to our dog volunteers and adoption counselors, Fred is a dream to leash up, he doesn't jump up, and he's very easy to walk. No tugging at all, he's just happy to walk in step by your side! Throw a tennis ball around or give him a tasty treat, and he'll be smitten. This photo was taken by one of Fred's favorite volunteers. Wouldn't you love to be on the receiving end of one of Fred's winsome gazes? Fred is ready to have a person of his own and leave kennel life behind. If you have other dogs at home, we'll schedule a "Meet and Greet" prior to adoption. Because of his energy level, we suggest an adult-only home or a home with older kids only (ages 13 and up).

Rascal has been waiting for a home since December 26, 2018! This poor sweetheart walks a little funny. Our X-rays showed he has buckshot in his hind leg. But that doesn't stop him from being a loving, social, and awesome cat! He will need medication for his lifetime for hyperthyroidism. And he does prefer to be the only cat at home, though dogs are fine. We estimate his age to be around 12 years old. He's famous!
Did you see him on Good Day Maine?

Goddard has been waiting for a home since February 16, 2018! He is a 14-year-old shorthair, a sweet older boy who loves comfy beds, a good snack, and ear scratches. He would do best in a home where he is the only cat. His adoption fee has been waived. He is being treated for a chronic hyperthyroid condition that will need lifelong medication and regular care with his veterinarian. Don't pass up this sweetie pie!